MUMBAI- Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray accused the BJP on Friday of “murdering democracy” by pressuring media and fueling religious polarization following the leak of a 29-minute audio clip.
The viral recording allegedly features BJP office-bearers and RSS functionaries discussing tactics to manipulate media narratives and counter Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange. In the clip, a woman claims a Rs 500 crore payment reached Jarange via Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde an allegation Jarange says is a conspiracy to silence his movement.
Thackeray urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to investigate the substance of the conversations rather than limiting the probe to the recording’s authenticity.
Fadnavis ordered a forensic examination of the audio, while BJP leaders questioned the clip’s timing and suggested it could be AI-generated.
